Perfect for fans of comical animal do-gooders like The Bad Guys, The InvestiGators, and The Chicken Squad, this hilarious chapter book series follows a group of bumbling dog detectives and their newest recruit—a cat! In their third case, the Underdogs must fetch the identity of a tennis ball thief.Crime is on the rise in Dogtown, and it’s all thanks to a doggone thief! It’s nearly time for the Dogtown Tennis Grand Slam, but all the balls have gone missing. Could Boris Barker, the famed international tennis pro, be behind it all? Or what about Steffi Gruff? Or Novak Dogavic? No matter who the culprit is, if they’re not stopped, the tournament will be ruined.
So it’s time to call in the Underdog Detective Agency: with Barkley the German shepherd, Carl the Chihuahua, Dr. Spots the Dalmatian, and Fang . . . the cat. (Yes, a CAT!) What the Underdogs lack in skill, they make up for in grit and determination. And they jump on the case like a dog with a ball, but can they save the day and serve up the criminal mastermind in time? Or will it be game, set, match? You’ll have to read to find out in this paws-itively hilarious mystery!
On sale: March 14, 2023
Age: 6-9 years
Grade: Grades 1-4
Page count: 176 Pages
ISBN: 9780593527009
Reading level: Lexile: 570L | Fountas/Pinnell: O
Kate and Jol Temple love to write silly books for kids! Some of them rhyme and others do not, but all of them have pictures because pictures are cool and anyone who says they're not is a two-headed yeti. Their books have won several awards, such as the 2020 Charlotte Huck Award at NCTE. The Underdogs is their debut chapter book series. Kate and Jol live in Sydney, Australia, with their two sons and a dog that thinks it's a racoon. You can learn more about them all at katejoltemple.com and follow them @KateJolTemple on Instagram.
Shiloh Gordon has a passion for creating lively, engaging illustrations that are full of character and fun. He has a degree in animation from the Queensland College of Art and has worked as a professional illustrator for over twenty years. The Underdogs is his debut chapter book series. Shiloh lives in Brisbane, Australia, with his wife and three kids, who are an endless source of fun and inspiration. You can follow him on Instagram @ShilohIllustration.
Praise for the Underdogs!"The Underdogs will have young readers HOWLING with laughter, SNIFFING for clues and BARKING with delight."
—Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood, creators of Real Pigeons Fight Crime
"Nonstop wordplay and comic resilience prove winning in this quirky, quick-moving mystery, shown in Gordon’s animated b&w illustrations, that will have readers rooting for the Underdogs."
—Publishers Weekly
★ "This third in the series about the second-best dog detective agency in town is full of energy and keeps the mystery rolling along in a hybrid chapter-book format. This terrifically entertaining audio adaptation will engage young listeners."
—Booklist (starrred review)
